Made in America Forum
Private, invitation-only deal room around American technology, industrial supply chain, and capital priorities.
A Summit on Investment, Innovation,
and National Capacity
In a moment when global competition defines national power, the United States must seize its pioneering spirit to drive a new golden era of manufacturing, innovation, and economic prosperity. The Made in America Forum, set in the heart of Washington, DC, will convene industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and visionaries for a historic two-day program of keynotes, roundtables, VIP sessions, and exclusive networking opportunities. With a mission to strengthen U.S. industry and a vision of renewed American leadership, this Forum offers an unmatched platform to shape the future of American ingenuity, resilience, and global competitiveness.
SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY
MAY 7, 2026
SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY
MAY 7, 2026 – COMPLETED
The United States is entering a decisive era. Control over AI, infrastructure, capital, and supply chains will define national power. This summit convenes leaders across technology, defense, and investment to examine how America can rebuild end-to-end sovereign capability—from intelligence systems to physical infrastructure.
Program of Event
Welcome + Opening Remarks
9:00 – 9:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Iliad Terra — CEO, alfa8, Founder & CEO, MindCube Lab.
Strategic designer, architect, and systems thinker operating at the convergence of AI, cognition, and sovereign infrastructure. Iliad leads MindCube Lab, advancing next-generation AI frameworks focused on mental health, cognitive resilience, and national-scale intelligence systems.
Keynote Address: Winning the Cognitive Battlefield - Securing Truth, Power, and Decision-Making in the 21st Century
9:10 – 9:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time
A powerful look at how adversaries are targeting perception, truth, and decision-making through cognitive warfare in an increasingly contested global landscape. This session explores how the U.S. can reclaim narrative power, build cognitive resilience, and secure strategic advantage without direct conflict.
Dave Pitts – Chief Strategy Officer, Crescent Bridge
Former CIA executive with over 4 decades in intelligence and high-stakes national security. Today, he operates at the intersection of cognitive warfare, gray zone operations, and strategic technology integration, strengthening U.S. advantages in great power competition.
Panel 1: Sovereign Intelligence: Securing America’s AI Future
9:15 – 9:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Panel Overview
Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a technological evolution—it is a geopolitical force reshaping power, security, and economic dominance. As nations race to control the next era of intelligence, the United States faces a defining question: can it build and secure a fully sovereign AI ecosystem?
This panel explores AI as critical national infrastructure—spanning chips, data centers, energy, rare earth minerals, compute, platforms, distribution, and workforce. Framed through the lens of “Made in America,” the discussion examines how end-to-end control of the AI supply chain will determine not only economic leadership, but national resilience and strategic autonomy in a rapidly shifting global order.
Moderated by Iliad Terra, this conversation brings together leaders operating at the intersection of AI, infrastructure, and national strategy to confront both the unprecedented opportunities and existential risks of AI—and what it will take to ensure that America leads, builds, and governs its own intelligent future.
Moderator: Iliad Terra — CEO, alfa8, Founder & CEO, MindCube Lab.
Strategic designer, architect, and systems thinker operating at the convergence of AI, cognition, and sovereign infrastructure. Iliad leads MindCube Lab, advancing next-generation AI frameworks focused on mental health, cognitive resilience, and national-scale intelligence systems.
Lin Wells — Former CIO, U.S. Department of Defense.
Senior national security and technology leader with decades of experience at the intersection of defense, cyber strategy, and emerging technologies. Lin brings a deep understanding of how AI, digital infrastructure, and policy shape national security and global stability.
Jascha Stein — Founder & CEO, Omnibot.
Entrepreneur and AI strategist focused on applied intelligence systems and automation at scale. Through Omnibot, Jascha is building next-generation AI agents and platforms that integrate across industries, emphasizing autonomy, efficiency, and real-world deployment of intelligent systems.
Vinay Gupta — Founder, Mattereum.
Technologist, systems theorist, and pioneer in infrastructure thinking across blockchain, materials science, and resilience systems. At Materium, Vinay is focused on rebuilding the foundations of global infrastructure—spanning supply chains, materials, and decentralized systems critical to sovereign technological capability.
Kevin Clark — Content Evolution
Kevin Clark is an award-winning business innovator, author, and alpine skier, advising leaders at the intersection of people and technology. He is coauthor of Collective Intelligence in the Age of AI and coauthor of Humanity in Motion.
Moderator: Iliad Terra — Founder & CEO, MindCube Lab.
Strategic designer, architect, and systems thinker operating at the convergence of AI, cognition, and sovereign infrastructure. Iliad leads MindCube Lab, advancing next-generation AI frameworks focused on mental health, cognitive resilience, and national-scale intelligence systems.
Jascha Stein — Founder & CEO, Omnibot.
Entrepreneur and AI strategist focused on applied intelligence systems and automation at scale. Through Omnibot, Jascha is building next-generation AI agents and platforms that integrate across industries, emphasizing autonomy, efficiency, and real-world deployment of intelligent systems.
Vinay Gupta — Founder, Mattereum.
Technologist, systems theorist, and pioneer in infrastructure thinking across blockchain, materials science, and resilience systems. At Materium, Vinay is focused on rebuilding the foundations of global infrastructure—spanning supply chains, materials, and decentralized systems critical to sovereign technological capability.
Lin Wells — Former CIO, U.S. Department of Defense.
Senior national security and technology leader with decades of experience at the intersection of defense, cyber strategy, and emerging technologies. Lin brings a deep understanding of how AI, digital infrastructure, and policy shape national security and global stability.
Kevin Clark — Content Evolution
Kevin Clark is an award-winning business innovator, author, and alpine skier, advising leaders at the intersection of people and technology. He is coauthor of Collective Intelligence in the Age of AI and coauthor of Humanity in Motion.
Panel 2: A Look At America's Critical Supply Chain For Today & Tomorrow: Metals, Minerals, and Isotopes (Oh My!)
9:50 – 10:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Panel Overview
America’s national security, defense edge, and economic future depend on one thing: control of critical metals, minerals, and isotopes. SCIF Capital’s Ashtan Moore moderates a no-fluff briefing on the vulnerabilities, the opportunities, and the urgent steps needed to reshore these supply chains—before dependence becomes disaster. Essential for anyone shaping policy, strategy, or investment in Washington.
Moderator: Ashtan Moore — SCIF Capital. Investor focused on strategic and national security-aligned sectors.
Damien Coleman — US Antimony. Focused on domestic production of critical minerals.
Travis Steele — Abo Ventures. Investor in strategic resources and emerging industrial systems.
Adam Patterson — SMRC Group. Operator in mineral supply chains and resource development.
Moderator: Ashtan Moore — SCIF Capital.
Ashtan Moore is Managing Partner of SCIF Capital, providing capital formation and growth advisory to
founders, funds, and family offices focused on critical infrastructure and energy transition.
Damien Coleman — US Antimony.
Managing Director of Government Affairs at United States Antimony Corporation. He leads engagement with federal stakeholders to strengthen domestic production of antimony — a critical mineral essential for U.S. defense, manufacturing, and energy security.
Travis Steele — Abo Ventures.
Travis serves as CEO of Abo Ventures. Travis is actively involved in the legal and business development activities for Eden Radioisotopes, LLC, Vara Assets, LLC, and JAY Land, among others. He maintains primary responsibility for sourcing, analyzing, and negotiating all Abo Empire investment activities.
Adam Patterson — SMRC Group.
Strategy lead at SMRC Group, Adam Patterson bridges the gap between D.C. industrial policy and private capital. He specializes in de-risking the ‘uninvestable’ segments of the critical mineral supply chain.
Break
10:20 – 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Panel 3: De-Risking Defense Investments for Private & Multi-Generational Capital
Panel Overview
National security is no longer just a policy issue—it is the ultimate investment frontier. Join Ashtan Moore (SCIF Capital) and a panel of elite experts as we strip away the complexity of “Made in America” investing. From navigating geopolitical volatility to protecting multi-generational wealth through defense innovation, we’re sharing the blueprint for de-risking the most critical assets in your portfolio. If you’re looking to align sovereign impact with superior returns, this is the room you need to be in.
Moderator: Ashtan Moore is Managing Partner of SCIF Capital, providing capital formation and growth advisory to
founders, funds, and family offices focused on critical infrastructure and energy transition.
Meagan Murphy Crawford, MBA: Managing Partner of SpaceFund, Meagan is a venture capitalist and “NewSpace” pioneer focused on de-risking high-frontier investments to secure America’s future in the space economy.
Peter Kuper, J.F. Lehman & Co.: A veteran growth investor and former In-Q-Tel Partner, Peter leverages decades of technical expertise to de-risk and scale high-priority aerospace, defense, and cyber technologies.
Melissa Chalfant is General Partner at InVentures LLC and moderator of the panel. A versatile tech strategist with experience across multiple sectors, she specializes in connecting university students and talent pipelines with early-stage startups to fuel Opportunity Zone innovation.
Moderator: Ashtan Moore — SCIF Capital.
Ashtan Moore is Managing Partner of SCIF Capital, providing capital formation and growth advisory to
founders, funds, and family offices focused on critical infrastructure and energy transition.
Meagan Crawford — Space Fund.
Meagan Murphy Crawford, MBA: Managing Partner of SpaceFund, Meagan is a venture capitalist and “NewSpace” pioneer focused on de-risking high-frontier investments to secure America’s future in the space economy.
Peter Kuper — J.F. Lehman.
Peter Kuper, J.F. Lehman & Co.: A veteran growth investor and former In-Q-Tel Partner, Peter leverages decades of technical expertise to de-risk and scale high-priority aerospace, defense, and cyber technologies.
Melissa Chalfant — Inventures
Melissa Chalfant is General Partner at InVentures LLC and moderator of the panel. A versatile tech strategist with experience across multiple sectors, she specializes in connecting university students and talent pipelines with early-stage startups to fuel Opportunity Zone innovation.
Panel 4: The New Alpha: Architecting Tech Hubs via OZ 2.0 and National Security
Panel Overview
Focus: Venture Capital | Federal Policy | National Defense | Regional Innovation
The landscape of tax-advantaged investing is shifting. With the arrival of Opportunity Zones 2.0, the playbook for Limited Partners and Angel Investors has evolved from simple real estate plays to high-growth technology arbitrage.
This panel explores a sophisticated investment thesis: The “Stacked” Tech Hub. Join us as we break down how to capture outsized returns by aligning early-stage technology with the three pillars of modern regional growth:
OZ 2.0 & Tax Abatement: Leveraging the new permanent features of the OZ code and “30% basis step-up” opportunities to maximize after-tax IRRs.
The University Catalyst: Activating local colleges as talent engines and R&D labs to de-risk seed-stage entries and institutionalize the zone’s growth.
Capital Stacking & National Security: Strategies for layering federal grants and non-dilutive funding onto private equity, specifically targeting dual-use technologies that serve the nation’s most critical security objectives.
Moderator: Melissa Chalfant is General Partner at InVentures LLC and moderator of the panel. A versatile tech strategist with experience across multiple sectors, she specializes in connecting university students and talent pipelines with early-stage startups to fuel Opportunity Zone innovation. She brings practical insight into activating local colleges as R&D engines and talent catalysts—matching talent with ventures to de-risk seed investments, institutionalize growth, and build self-sustaining tech hubs under OZ 2.0.
Mollie Jahner is Founder & CEO of Spring & Forge, a firm specializing in government contracts, procurement, and capital advisory for defense tech and dual-use startups. She helps de-risk through non-dilutive federal funding, strategic partnerships, and real-world feedback from government customers. An aerospace engineer turned defense tech advocate, Mollie enables OZF tech ventures to layer grants and contracts onto private capital—accelerating commercialization while strengthening national security priorities.
Dr. H. Joseph Yoon is a physician and med tech innovator in Iowa, actively building a practical use case for a Med Tech thesis within an Opportunity Zone framework. He leverages local university resources as a talent and R&D catalyst to de-risk early-stage healthcare technologies and drive regional innovation ecosystems. With deep expertise at the intersection of clinical practice, medical technology, and community-based growth, Dr. Yoon demonstrates how OZ 2.0 incentives and university partnerships can transform regional assets into self-sustaining, high-potential tech hubs.
Moderator: Melissa Chalfant is General Partner at InVentures LLC and moderator of the panel. A versatile tech strategist with experience across multiple sectors, she specializes in connecting university students and talent pipelines with early-stage startups to fuel Opportunity Zone innovation. She brings practical insight into activating local colleges as R&D engines and talent catalysts—matching talent with ventures to de-risk seed investments, institutionalize growth, and build self-sustaining tech hubs under OZ 2.0.
Mollie Jahner is Founder & CEO of Spring & Forge, a firm specializing in government contracts, procurement, and capital advisory for defense tech and dual-use startups. She helps de-risk through non-dilutive federal funding, strategic partnerships, and real-world feedback from government customers. An aerospace engineer turned defense tech advocate, Mollie enables OZF tech ventures to layer grants and contracts onto private capital—accelerating commercialization while strengthening national security priorities.
Dr. H. Joseph Yoon is a physician and med tech innovator in Iowa, actively building a practical use case for a Med Tech thesis within an Opportunity Zone framework. He leverages local university resources as a talent and R&D catalyst to de-risk early-stage healthcare technologies and drive regional innovation ecosystems. With deep expertise at the intersection of clinical practice, medical technology, and community-based growth, Dr. Yoon demonstrates how OZ 2.0 incentives and university partnerships can transform regional assets into self-sustaining, high-potential tech hubs.
Michael Kreuger is a Corporate and Securities Partner at Lucosky Brookman LLP and leads the firm’s Opportunity Zone and Fund Formation departments. With experience as both outside and in-house counsel, he advises startups, financial institutions, and real estate ventures on complex transactions, fund formation, mergers and acquisitions, bank finance, and private equity. Recognized as a leading authority in Opportunity Zones, Michael has helped deploy over $1B in Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds since 2019.
Case Study: West Virginia — A National Model for Sovereign Infrastructure
McDowell County, WV
As a core initiative of the Made in America Forum, West Virginia’s Appalachian region serves as a national pilot for revitalizing rural America through strategic capital, innovation, and forward-thinking policy leadership. By aligning investment, technology, workforce development, and public-private partnerships, this case study demonstrates how resource-rich rural communities can once again become engines of American strength, resilience, and economic renewal.
Bob Brown — Office of the President with American Federation of Teachers
Bob is a special assistant in the Office of the President with the American Federation of Teachers. Brown resides in Charleston, WV, and serves or has served as: Treasurer of Reconnecting McDowell, Inc; Vice President with the WV AFL-CIO; member of the WV Private Industry Council; member of the WV Workforce Investment Council and more.
Mark Molinaro — CEO, SkySpigot
Moderator: Iliad Terra — Founder & CEO, MindCube Lab.
Strategic designer, architect, and systems thinker operating at the convergence of AI, cognition, and sovereign infrastructure. Iliad leads MindCube Lab, advancing next-generation AI frameworks focused on mental health, cognitive resilience, and national-scale intelligence systems.
Moderator: Iliad Terra — CEO, alfa8, Founder & CEO, MindCube Lab.
Strategic designer, architect, and systems thinker operating at the convergence of AI, cognition, and sovereign infrastructure. Iliad leads MindCube Lab, advancing next-generation AI frameworks focused on mental health, cognitive resilience, and national-scale intelligence systems.
Bob Brown — Office of the President with American Federation of Teachers
Bob is a special assistant in the Office of the President with the American Federation of Teachers. Brown resides in Charleston, WV, and serves or has served as: Treasurer of Reconnecting McDowell, Inc; Vice President with the WV AFL-CIO; member of the WV Private Industry Council; member of the WV Workforce Investment Council and more.
Mark Molinaro — CEO, SkySpigot
Reid Erickson — Erickson Associates, LLC
Q&A
Closing Remarks
SPONSORS & STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Note: This is a preliminary list of Sponsors and Partners and is subject to change. An expanded roster of confirmed sponsors, partner organizations, and public-sector stakeholders will be published here as we approach the event date and will be made available to registered attendees.
SPONSOR
